Sault High beats Stags, takes a step closer to playoffs

SAULT STE. MARIE — Facing a must-win to keep its postseason hopes alive, Sault High delivered with a 43-14 victory over the Kingsley Stags at VanCitters Field Saturday.

Kyle Root ran for 175 yards on 32 carries and scored three touchdowns for the Blue Devils (5-4 overall), who now need just one more win to qualify for the playoffs.

Featuring a power-running game led by dominant offensive line play on a rainy afternoon, the Blue Devils pounded out 322 yards rushing on 53 carries.

"We practiced in the rain and snow all week," Root said. "We're used to this kind of weather, and we like it.

"We lost to this team the last two years," said Root, one of 11 seniors and a 3-year varsity player. "It's a huge win for our team, especially for our seniors and there is no better way than this to go out in our last home game."

Senior Austin Brown — who switched between line and halfback all season — was in the backfield again Saturday and helped pave the way for Root.

"Our seniors led the way and it was a good all-around performance from all of our guys," Sault High coach Scott Menard said. "The weather obviously dictated that both teams were going to have to run. We just stuck mostly with a simple drive-block offense, and gave it to Root. That has been what has taken us to this point.

"With Brown and Root back there together, that's a tough combination to stop," Menard said. "We brought (Alex) Moscatello over to the offensive line, and ran a lot of plays behind him and (Aaron) Lasecki and Nathan LaJoie. We thought we could overpower them with our line."

Junior quarterback Michael James was another standout for the Blue Devils. He ran for 116 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns and nearly had a third TD before being dragged down at the 1 on a 49-yard scamper. James was also 2-of-4 passing for 41 yards. Ryan Wollan also had a 22-yard TD run for the Blue Devils.

"Michael James was a major component of the offense," Menard said. "He sprung some running plays, and also completed two big passing plays to Ray'Shon (Anderson) when we needed them."

Kingsley scored first, as Tristan Eickenroth broke free on a 91-yard touchdown run at 8:09 of the first quarter. He also ran in the 2-point conversion.

The Blue Devils were stopped on downs on the next series, but James pinned the Stags deep in their own end with a 48-yard punt. After a holding penalty backed the Stags down to their own 1-yard line, the Blue Devils tackled Eickenroth in his own end zone for a safety.

Sault High pounded out scoring drives on its next two possessions, capped by 15 and 11-yard TD runs from Root. James had a 28-yard TD run and Root added a 1-yard TD run as the Blue Devils took a 28-8 lead into halftime.

The Sault special teams helped set up the final score before the half, as Kaleb Harstvedt blocked a Kingsley punt, and Nick Horton recovered. Three plays later, Root scored.

James had a 10-yard TD run and Ryan Wollan had a 22-yard scoring run in the second half for the Sault.

After giving up a TD run to the Stags on their 4th play of the game, the Sault defense did not allow any more points until Nathan Zenner had a 1-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Brown was among many defensive standouts from his linebacker post.

"Knowing our defense can stop people just allows us so many opportunities on offense," Menard said. "The defense continues to really make the difference for our team."

Said Root: "I wouldn't trade our linebackers for anybody else's," Root said. "We have so much confidence in our defense."